I have been researching, documenting & catagorising hay bale markings across the country. The resulting record of this painterly anomoly has informed the production of original works distilling the concept of freedom in each category discovered.
The farmer’s marks can appear calligraphic, typographic, zoomorphic, similar to naive children's drawings and also to famous abstract expressionist painters. Establishing a definitive number of painted bale categories has allowed me to create a clear series of works based on each category.
I have a working theory that the more rural farmers have a looser hand when they mark their bales, an insight into how location can influence subconscious mark-making and the effects of rural living.
This project has received funding under the Agility Award from the Arts Council of Ireland.